Monday 7th March 2022
I'm in the Transvaal province, more specifically Gauteng. I inched my way from Parys on a surprisingly good condition, back road, past my old home town. I had never traveled that part of the road before and it was interesting to see the veld look so green. Every tiny dam was full to the brim and the rivers are in full flow.
I drove past the old factory where my dad once worked and I got a big lump in my throat. It was that specific building that got me to this point in my prize car, on this sunny day 51 years later. It was because of those unseen coal fields lying beneath the green, thriving veld that there was a demand for metal industry workers. The demand for skill that had a fellow British countryman standing in the wet streets of Glasgow in the late 60s recruiting workers to 'Come to Sunny South Africa...' A land that my folks knew nothing about other than it was offering a hand when the 'homeland' was shutting down.
A land that has presented it's best self to me these past few weeks with it's sunshine, nature and fantastic people. A section of the country previously unseen but to one I will definitely return. An adventure of buildings, history, animals and landscape that hides and reveals when it chooses.
I was asked today what was my best part of my trip and I can't answer. I probably know that my least favourite evening was my outbound night in Bloemfontein, where I hid in the hotel and left straight after breakfast. But the city redeemed itself to me on my inbound journey with it's museums and art, history and food.
It's comforting to know that once I left the Gauteng boundaries, the fear dissappeared. People's smiles become wider and their doors less guarded. Of course there's still many social problems, but overall I found the energy to be one of hospitality and welcoming, curiosity and encouragement.
This chapter of my adventure draws to a close and today, I got the call of my impending car return. I'm not too sad because I am giving it back, I'm super excited to have had the opportunity.
Dreams do come true. Dream big!
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